Cycle Engage UK press launch

Cycle Engage UK held a press day at Sandy Park on Tuesday 30th August to introduce the concept behind the cycling team and their aims going ahead. With the backing of former paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL the team have got off to a great start.

Held at the Exeter Chief’s ground in Exeter, the launch day enabled husband and wife team Tom and Alice Staniford to speak with local and national press and explain a little more about the project.

Competitive cycling team – women and paracyclists

Cycle Engage UK are setting up a women’s and a paracycling squad that will compete at the top level in domestic cycling races, supporting their riders to help them compete to their best ability and achieve their potential.

“We felt there was a bit of a void, particularly in women’s cycling and paracycling, where these people are underrepresented and underfunded and this team is our way of addressing that.”

– Tom Staniford, speaking to BBC Spotlight

Female athletes, and para athletes even more so, generally face more barriers in achieving their sporting aims but Cycle Engage UK wants to provide that stepping stone for some of the South West’s talented cyclists so that whatever their personal circumstances, they can tackle the challenge of elite competition from a solid base.

The team are looking to partner with some of the top cycling brands to provide the riders with quality equipment alongside corporate funding to relieve financial pressures on the athletes leaving them free to focus on their sporting performance.

Supporting the growth of cycling in everyday lives

Alongside this competitive drive Cycle Engage UK are keen to give back to the community and inspire more people to take up cycling. Whether as a leisure pursuit, method of transport or as a more serious hobby the team would like to encourage more people onto their bikes in the South West.

“We’d like to show people how easy it is to get on your bike and use it day-to-day: you don’t need to be a top athlete with a lifetime of elite sport behind you to be able to enjoy cycling. I’d like to see riding a bike become a commonplace mode of transport and if we can show people how simple, safe and fun cycling can be that would be great”

– Alice Staniford

Press coverage

With film crews from both local ITV and BBC present at the launch, as well as photos with key partners, the project was featured on prime-time TV and has received good social media coverage and responses.